Concerns raised about impact of farming on bees

While a decline in the bee population has been blamed on the Varroa destructor mite, Dave Williams from Golden Valley Apiaries at Peterchurch believed the finger should also be pointed at the use of chemicals and modern farming practices which have affected wildlife habitats.

“Bees in the UK have been subjected to a barrage of chemicals and changing farm practices for many years all of which have brought about various changes in the habitat and flora and fauna which the bees rely on to maintain a healthy colony,” he said. “Bees are no different to humans, they need a balanced diet to maintain their health and vigour. If you take away some of these vital components, they will succumb to various other problems, viruses, dwindling, dying out and the ability to reproduce all become affected to some degree.”

Mr Williams agrees that Varroa destructor has caused “immense problems” for beekeepers. “We have learned to deal with it,” he explained. “However it brings about a weakness which indirectly causes viruses to affect our bees which are more difficult to deal with.”

However he argued that the loss of habitat has continued since the Second World War.

“We have lost miles of hedgerows, we have lost many wild pastures containing an abundance of wild flowers including white clover which used to be considered very valuable to livestock.”

While farming in general is subsidised, Mr Williams makes the point that bee farmers receive no direct compensation.

“We as commercial beekeepers do provide millions of pounds of income for our food industry,” he said. “We are part of agriculture, ignore us at your peril. We need help and those who make decisions on our behalf should be made more aware of our problems.”

He concluded: “I am a beekeeper of some 70 years experience and have seen the destruction of bees over the years. The ecosystem is a very finely balanced tool, what affects one part will affect the other part indirectly.”